Blood Mountain

September 15, 2019
Siblings face a multiday fight for survival after getting lost on a hike. Thirteen-year-old Grace and her 11-year-old brother, Carter, look forward to an "internet-free day" hiking up Blood Mountain with their dog, Sitka, and their father. What starts as a routine trip turns frightening when kids and dog become separated from their father and stray off the trail. Disoriented, they make more wrong decisions, which lead them deeper into the woods. Severe injuries, threat from a mountain lion, and an encounter with an unstable mountain man erode their hope of being found and challenge their ability to remain alive. What initially feels set up to be an inclusion of diverse elements--a "wheelchair-bound" mother with multiple sclerosis, a war vet mountain man dealing with what seems to be PTSD, and brown-skinned park ranger Makayla Devaroix (the only explicitly nonwhite character)--turns out to be mostly peripheral. In addition, while the use of alternating, third-person points of view for each chapter lends a filmic quality to particular scenes, allowing readers to experience the story from multiple perspectives, some may find that jumping among characters hobbles important opportunities for emotional connection in critical moments. Nevertheless, sectioning the story into six distinct days combines with the tight prose to make a fast-paced read for those not eager for more diversity in their outdoor adventures. For diehard fans of wilderness survival. (Adventure. 9-12)

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October 28, 2019
Set over six days, this harrowing survival story follows two siblings as they struggle to stay alive in the wilderness. Responsible and level-headed, 13-year-old Grace Taylor is easily frustrated by her 11-year-old brother, Carter, who is impulsive and headstrong. When the two set off on a day hike up Blood Mountain with their father and their dog, they grow impatient with their dad’s slow pace and set off on their own, but they quickly lose their way in the rugged landscape. After Grace survives a dramatic fall, which leaves her immobile, Carter is determined to prove that he is capable of saving them both. What neither of them knows is that a man who seems to have PTSD and has been living off the grid is tracking them. Chock-full of suspense and real-life danger, the story moves quickly, despite a somewhat intrusive narrative voice that delves into lengthy ruminations from each character. The siblings’ grit and resilience is compelling, though, and Preller (the Jigsaw Jones series) deftly maintains the question of their survival. Younger readers may find some scenes graphic (about a squirrel, “he cracks the soft breastplate, slices up to the head”), but fans of Gary Paulsen’s books will likely be hooked from page one. Ages 9–12. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio.

January 24, 2020

Gr 4-6-A simple family hike unexpectedly becomes a six-day struggle for survival for two children and their dog. Carter, 11, his sister Grace, 13, and their dog Sitka become separated from their father, who lags behind and suffers a heart attack at the trailhead. The siblings' situation becomes dire when they realize they're lost and Grace cannot walk after being severely injured in a fall. Carter sets out on his own to seek help, leaving Grace and Sitka in the forest. Preller, best known for his "Jigsaw Jones" series, ratchets up the urgency, crafting additional threats that shadow the separated children, including a cougar on the prowl and a mysterious mountain man. The result is a page-turning adventure, skillfully using alternating points of view to give readers a direct line to each character's heartbeat. Readers walk in characters' footsteps thanks to the vividly realized setting. While both children experience an epiphany regarding their place in the natural world, it's the strong supporting characters who round out the novel. D.E.C. Ranger Makayla provides fascinating survival facts and mountain man John embodies the novel's themes of non-materialism and finding oneself. Occasionally graphic, consistently suspenseful, this title will make a lasting impression with an emotionally stirring and complex conclusion. VERDICT A thrilling purchase for middle grade collections; perfect for fans of adventure novels by Jean Craighead George, Peg Kehret, and Gary Paulsen.-Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

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